The London Assembly today backed a Conservative motion condemning Ken Livingstone’s remarks comparing Wandsworth's last council leader, Edward Lister, to indicted Serbian general Ratko Mladic.
Speaking in Bromley, Mr Livingstone said of Mr Lister, now Boris Johnson's chief of staff: “If Boris gets re-elected, he'll be trying all he can to please the Tory grassroots, cos they're the ones who'll pick their next leader. That's why he's got the beast of Wandsworth unleashed. Eddie Lister: the Ratko Mladic of local government.”
The motion was supported by the Liberal Democrats.
Group Leader, James Cleverly said: “Ken Livingstone’s remarks are utterly outrageous and offensive and demonstrate a huge error of judgment on his part. This episode suggests to me that he’s wholly unsuitable to be Labour’s candidate in this election and certainly demonstrates why he can never be mayor again.”
Ratko Mladic is indicted with genocide, extermination, murder, deportation, inhumane acts, terror, unlawful attacks and the taking of hostages.
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